I’m always excited whenever I hear of success stories. That’s why today I’m taking a break away from my ongoing wordpress seo series to talk about the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women as announced by Forbes. And my attention is mostly on Lady Gaga who accidentally is the youngest in the list of 100 Most Powerful Women in the world right now!
Now, I must say I’m not much of a fan of Lady Gaga but her profile is something that really interests me. At 25 she ranks as Forbes' World #1 Most Powerful Celebrity and World #7 Most Powerful Woman! What interests me most is the fact that women like Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama did not make the list. Surprising right?
But who really is Lady Gaga?
This young lady was born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta of Italian and distant French-Canadian ancestry. Born on March 28, 1986, in New York City she is the first child of Joseph Germanotta and Cynthia. The dad is an internet entrepreneur. Lady Gaga who is left-handed began learning to play the piano at aged four and went on to write her first piano ballad at 13. At age 14 she was already performing at open mike nights. Raised a Roman Catholic Lady Gaga attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart, a private all-girls Roman Catholic school from the age of 11.
At age 17 Lady Gaga gained early admission to New York University where she studied music and sharpened her songwriting skills by composing essays and analytical papers focusing on topics such as art, religion, social issues and politics. Something that shaped Lady Gaga’s career was a thesis she did on pop artists Spencer Tunick and Damien Hirst. The research in “music, art, sex and celebrity” indeed prepared her for her future career. In her own words, “Once you learn how to think about art, you can teach yourself.”
However, Lady Gaga had to withdraw from the school by the second semester of her sophomore year because she wanted to focus on her musical career. Though, this did not go down well with her father Lady Gaga took her destiny in her own hands.
“I left my entire family, got the cheapest apartment I could find, and ate shit until somebody would listen,” she once said.
I think today this young lady has made her point. Just like other successful people who choose to follow their heart no matter what others say, Lady Gaga proved that when you make your passion your driving force your dream will always turn out to be a reality!
At the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, Lady Gaga was nominated for a total of nine awards, winning the award for Best New Artist, while her single “Paparazzi” won two awards for Best Art Direction and Best Special Effects. Being celebrated among the world’s 100 most influential women today is a testimonial to her belief in herself and her abilities.
Lady Gaga: The Figures Also Speaks!
Indeed, Lady Gaga’s crown of FORBES 2011 Most Powerful Celebrity is something she deserves for has made good on this in both the dollar signs and a massive constituency. She raked in $90m over the past year. In July, Lady Gaga became the first Twitter user to reach 12 million followers, trumping teen dream Justin Bieber and President Obama. Her Facebook page has 36 million fans.
Besides, Lady Gaga has recently begun promotional deals with Google, Zynga and Gilt and is a not-so-silent financial backer in Backplane, a Silicon Valley start-up founded by her longtime manager Troy Carter. The sales of Gaga-endorsed MAC's VIVA GLAM Lipstick and Lipgloss have raised more than $202 million to fight HIV and AIDS. In the words of Beyonce, Lady Gaga is “the most talented pop star.”
Lady Gaga’s Public image
Lady Gaga is of course well-recognized for her unconventionality. The reception of her music, fashion sense and persona are always a thing of mixed feelings. Her status as a role model, trailblazer and fashion icon is something that is both spoken for and against. Her performances, though described as “highly entertaining and innovative” are most times out of the ordinary like the blood-spurting performance of “Paparazzi” at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
I must say that her unconventionality and “provocative” performances are some of the reasons why I’m not a big fan of hers. But as Chris Rock said in defense of her flamboyant, provocative behavior: “Well, she's Lady Gaga, She's not ‘Lady Behave Yourself.' Do you want great behavior from a person named Gaga? Is this what you were expecting?”
So, Lady Gaga may not have some great behavior but she indeed has some great influence and power! Or don’t you think so?
Let's have your views on Lady Gaga's appearance in Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women list and what you think of Lady Gaga's public figure in the comments below.
Lady Gaga jumps to the top of this year’s ranking of the richest and most powerful actors, actresses, athletes, writers and musicians.
she’s a beautiful lady , but not for all the times . there is an objection which reduces her beauty , and that’s the only one meaning of the fashion .
@Nicholas Scott, of course we cannot be great on all sides! She’s human you know 🙂
Similar to David Bowie and Madonna, she is a good all-rounder. I like the fact that she is a musician and songwriter. But, I think that her success is down to her ability to mix the art of stage production with her ability to know ‘how to grab attention’ and write catchy music and lyrics. She goes a bit far for my sedate taste. However, even in today’s society, she does seem to know where to draw the fine line between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. Perhaps I should loosen up a little?
@Russell Davison, oh don’t loosen up, I think we are kind of on the same side! I personally really thinks she is too off the real most times. What really drew my attention that led me to doing this post is the fact that Forbe picked her among the most powerful women in the world! Yes, she knows how to do her thing, yes, she has much interest among the young generation and yes, she is a successful woman but does that really make her “powerful”? or is the definition of powerful changing with our times?
I personally don’t think that lady Gaga should be in this list in general. She is a great singer, but I don’t think she is powerful. What is her power, except extravagant clothes and images?
@DiNaRa, you got my point. That’s just what I’ve tried to point out in my reply to Russell above. I’m sure I definition of powerful is faulty somewhere! 🙂
Lady Gaga is the best!
@Mary, yeah! 🙂
Lady Gaga, is the best performer and really works a lot. She is very talented, she can change shes song to a acoustic even the original is not. For ex. Avril Lavigne can’t sing her song in an acoustic manner. Lady Gaga is the best.
@Vernon, wow, great performer? Yes. The best? well I’m not doubting that! But the most powerful? I have my reservations! 🙂
Well to tell you the truth, Lady Gaga, right now, she is like the trendsetter or something. She always dressed differently with everyone else.
@Andrew Walker, but does dressing differently make her powerful?
Yes I do. Although she may dress provocative, she stands up for what she believes in and doesn’t care what others think about her. Because of that she’s a strong woman and because her music is great, yes I would consider her a good role model. Also the fact that she’s made a career for herself at a young age and has cleaned up her life from what it used to be! 🙂
@wooden bedroom furniture, oh cleaned up her life from what it used to be! I think you’ve tried to win me over 🙂 Ok, I want to give it to her that she is powerful from what you’ve said about her. Of course anyone who can master his/herself is indeed powerful for that I give it to her! Thanks for making me see this. 🙂
The headline of the article is just terrifying!
@James, Terrifying? Is it about being powerful?
Hi Chadrack,
Nice post on Lady gaga.She is a courageous woman.Thanks for sharing the post!
Lady gaga is really amazing!
nice post.. hope you can also post about Charice..
Forbes annual Celebrity Power 100 list was revealed and everyone was surprised to find Gaga at the number one spot. She beat out Oprah, who has held the number one spot for the past four years.
I really don’t know her but after reading this post I have come to know everything about this celerity and this is very cool insight.
@bjohn, oh thanks, I had to do some research on her and I was also surprised what I found out about her.
I like the fact that she is a musician and songwriter.Nice post on Lady gaga.She is a courageous woman.
Good for Gaga, but how about a powerful woman who doesn’t achieve fame publicly in her underwear? Okay, looking at the list, Oprah being #2 weakens my comment, but her power seems exceptional (in relation to this list.) Most of the women listed are on it are there because of their “hotness” factor, I’d presume to say.
This comment is motivated partly by watching Gaga the other night on American Idol. So talented, so creative—she was playing piano passionately, climbing and writhing around on it—in a bikini-underwear ensemble. For me, that is such a disconnect, such a “WTF?” moment—and I cannot truly see the “power” achieved by sexualizing her talent and power as an artist. I see it as playing the game, though I have heard arguments about how her self-management of her sexual image beats the power-definers at their own game.
I don’t disapprove of Gaga. I just wish that remuneration and recognition for talent for women didn’t have to be so dependent on their sexual appeal—which is how I interpret this list.
Lady GaGa’s style is amazing and something you cant miss. If i had anything close to a chance to see her in concert, i would go in a heartbeat. Ive gone to a few concerts like that where i only knew a couple of the songs. I was afraid i would have a bad time, but they all turned out to be amazing.
@Hen Dos,
That is really touching! 🙂
But frankly, I give it to her for her creativity but what I’m not too keen about is her vulgar and outrageous way of doing things.